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SAND

Quick reference guide

Tracks Screen

  • Create unlimited tracks by tapping the + button
  • Tap the + buttons in the circles to:
    • add one instruments (big circle)
    • unlimited effects (small circles)
    • recall a track template
  • Track menu (long press on a track)
    • duplicate track
    • save as template, and reuse the template to create another track with the same plugins, color, parameters
    • change track color
    • delete track
  • Clip menu (long press on a menu)
    • edit -> access clip editor
    • copy
    • paste
    • delete

Drawer

  • On-screen keyboard
    • pick a scale and a key note
    • add and remove keys with the - + buttons
    • change root note with the arrow buttons
  • Pick and control any parameter of any plugin in the current track
  • Metronome
  • Record to audio file(s)
    • tap the red record button and then start the song with the play button. The audio will be recorded onto audio files, one per track.
    • after stopping the recorder the audio file(s) can be exported

Clip Editor

  • Add notes (“+” button)
  • Select notes:
    • tap on a single note
    • long press and drag to select multiple notes
  • Move notes by dragging them
  • Delete selected notes by tapping the trash can button
  • Change notes length by dragging the handle on the righr
  • Change notes velocity with the slider on the triangle button
  • Quantize notes (Q button), quantization value is editable via the top left button
  • Change clip length with control (- + ) on the top right
  • Undo and redo
  • Step Editor (via MIDI controller)
    • enter via “Enter” command when inside the clip editor
    • navigate to a step via “left” and “right” commands
    • toggle the step by hitting a key on the MIDI keyboard

Plugins screen

  • Change order of effects (tap on a plugin in the tracks list → Edit → drag a plugin to move it)
  • Access by tapping on a plugin circle in the main screen
  • Interact with the plugin
    • via its own ui
    • its parameters
    • browse and load its presets
  • Default state for plugins: save the state for a plugin ( ⋯ → “Save as default state for plugin”). Every new instance of the plugin will start with that state and parameters

Settings

  • MIDI
    • Inputs: connect MIDI keyboard to input notes
    • Controllers: connect and map MIDI devices to control SAND, see “MIDI Mapping”
    • Bluetooth: connect to MIDI bluetooth devices, must be done prior to being able to use them as inputs or controllers
  • Settings:
    • Preferred sample rate (iOS will actually decide which sample rate to use, based on audio interface and other apps)
    • Buffer size
    • App Icon: pick your favorite color

MIDI Mapping

  • Create new mapping by pressing the + button on the top right
  • Delete a mapping by swiping it to the left
  • Map actions to MIDI controllers
    • Transport
      • control transport by mapping play, stop and record actions
    • Mixer
      • map tracks volume, pan, arm, mute, solo
    • Track
      • map actions to select previous / next track
        • parameters of the selected track will receive changes mapped to “Change Param X”
      • map actions to navigate previous / next effect in a track
        • parameters of the selected effect will receive changes mapped to “Change Param X”
      • toggle playing state of a clip
    • Editing
      • Shift keys
        • map up to 4 buttons on the MIDI controller to behave as shift keys: any other button on the MIDI controller can then be nmapped to multiple commands, depending on the shift button(s) being pressed or not
      • Enter:
        • when a track is selected, shows the plugins screen
        • when a clip is selected, enters the clip editor
        • inside the clip editor: enables the step editor
        • adds a parameter in the parameters view (track or plugin)
        • selects an item in a list
      • Escape:
        • exit the step editor
        • dismiss the clip editor
        • dismiss plugin and parameter lists
      • Up, Down:
        • select previous / next item in plugin, parameter and preset lists
      • Left, Right:
        • go to previous / next beat in the step editor
        • when a plugin is focused: switch plugin tab (plugin’s UI, parameters, presets)

Step editor

To use the step editor (see it in action in this video), the following commands need to be mapped:

  • Enter
  • Left
  • Right
  • (optionally) “Escape”

Once you are in the editor, press your “Enter” button on your midi controller, you’ll see the first step selected in red. At this point any note you press on your midi keyboard will toggle the note in the editor. Move the right or left with the buttons you mapped, exit the editor with the “Escape” button.